These are my links for April 23rd through April 24th:
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These are my links for April 22nd from 21:01 to 21:01:
- Deaths, injuries raise alarm at cheerleading's dangers – The Boston Globe – This post talks about the importance of Cheerleading safety especially in the state of Mass. It is an interesting piece, but I feel that people who advocate safety for cheerleaders sometimes go to the extreme and over regulate the sport. My classic example is the double full, which used to be legal in college, but due to safety restrictions has now been made illegal. Many people were landing it fine, some weren't. Better training would be a better solution than complete restriction.
Github is a web site for common git repositories. It has been around for a while, and I have been a member since before they became public. Basically you can create your git repos on the site, add code and whatnot, branch from other repos and then sync up. I use it mostly as a backup for my current project, which is a private repository.
Anyway, I wake up this morning to see that there is a new little item on the Github dashboard, “Gists”. I click on the link and get brought to a page that looks like Pastie. I’ve always been confused about how long the code stays around at Pastie. I would have like to post some links to Pastie stuff in the blog, but honestly, I haven’t trusted it to be around. So, maybe Gists existed on a more permanent basis. I started hunting around Github for some documentation on Gists, with no luck.
After doing some Googling, I landed on this video about Gists. It’s pretty informative. Basically, a gist is a simple way to create a small repo directly from the Github website. Looks like they are permanent, but don’t quote me on that.
A friend recommended I check out this band:
They are a bit bluegrass but also a bit country. I highly enjoy their music. I have been listening to them straight since yesterday afternoon when they were recommended to me. I would check out “Banjo Boy”, “Be the One”, and “Corn Dogs”. You can listen to the songs on their website.
This is just a brief aside, but it occurred to me today that often times I will pick which restaurant I like based on the quality of the chopsticks they offer. Safeway, for example, gives out really bad chopsticks that never break cleanly. I end up with one huge nob at the end of one stick, and the other stick is a mini stick. The chinese food restaurant, on the other hand, gives out great chop sticks. They always break cleanly and are of good solid build that feel comfortable in your hands. Many of the Japanese restaurants also have good chop sticks.
I think it funny, yet sad, that I will enjoy a restaurant more based on their selection of chop sticks, but really, can you imagine eating a Michael Jordan’s steakhouse rib eye with a plastic fork and knife? I choose the place with better chopsticks.
Cheerleading has really taken its toll on me over the years. I can no longer tuck like I used to. My body is getting even older and stuff that was easy just six months ago is getting harder and harder on my joints. So I made an appointment to go see a Sports Medicine doctor. The results:
- Possible tear in the right rotator cuff, will need to get an MRI to confirm
- Possible tear in the meniscus on my left knee (though both of them are hurting), will be following up with Physical Therapy on them
- I need to see another doctor about my ankle
The good news is that the doctor didn’t feel that any of the issues I’m suffering from should prevent me from cheering in the near future, or make me more likely to end up in a wheel chair any earlier than could normally be expected.
This post doesn’t really have anything to do major concepts covered on this blog
I was watching part of the House marathon on USA yesterday when I came across an interesting part of one episode. During the dialog one character asks another about the inner workings of their marriage with the patient.
The character responds by giving a very interesting explanation for why marriages don’t work. One of which I thought was very interesting [1]:
Maria Palko: Marriages don’t fail because couples get bored. They fail because, while they’re dating, people pretend to be the person they think their partner wants and then – well, there’s only so long you can keep that up.
Dr. Allison Cameron: Maybe they are that person when they’re dating, but then they change.
Maria Palko: People thinking their partner will change? That’s another reason marriages fail. People don’t change. At least not in any way that really matters.
I’m not expert on relationships but this does seem plausible.
The other day I was doing some recruiting at a local technical school for my company. Reflecting upon the experience, one thing really stood out at me. There were a large number of people who were walking around without a resume.
Now, it’s true than many companies will just ask you to apply online and that many of the resumes that you distribute to potential employers will simply be recycled without much review, but it would be wrong to assume that the act of distributing a resume is futile. Trust me, its not. Here’s why:
Resumes or (CVs for the Europeans) are a list of past experiences and interests. Your goal as someone walking around to various companies to get the recruiters interested in you. Most companies turn away far more people than they accept, and you need to distinguish yourself from the rest of the people applying for a job in some way. Establishing a personal connection with an employer is a great way to get a callback.
At the event I remembered talking to someone who had attended the same university as my little brother. We were able to talk about the school, the curriculum, and the weather there. It was enough for me to remember the rest of the conversation and help me bump the person up a bit when it comes to reviewing them.
These personal connections can come in several forms. I wouldn’t hesitate from including the following on your resume as they are sources for good connections:
- Hobbies
- Universities
- Hometown
- Sport Interests (even in high school)
- Additional Clubs or Interests
- Extracurricular Projects
Now, of course resume design comes into the picture. You don’t want to make your resume too cluttered such that it would be hard for employers to understand what they are looking at. Resume design, however, is very complex, and definitely a topic for another day, when I have more time to write.
I found a new program that allows me to write to my blog from my iPhone. Okay, so nothing overly exciting, but still another cool way to use my iPhone.
I have a couple of articles I have been meaning to write, so stay tuned 
Tags: random
If your watching TV, you’ve probably seen that the Olympics are going on right now. I have been watching more than my fair share of Olympics. One constant frustration for me is the continual mention of Michael Phelps. He has done some great things, like win 8 Gold medals in a week. He is truly a phenomenal swimmer, but I don’t like him as a role model.
In 2004, after the Olympics were over, Phelps was arrested for a DUI. He was sentenced to 18 months probation and instructed to give several speeches to locals schools about the negatives of driving under the influence. That was the end of it. There has been relatively no mention about Phelps’ DUI in this Olympics. Why? I would think it is because they don’t want to tarnish Michael Phelps during the games. He is supposed to be a role model, someone everyone aspires to be. How would parents feel if they knew that the person their kids were looking up to had committed a DUI? Is that the same role model?
Now, there is something for giving everyone a second chance. Phelps made a mistake and moved on. We should all be so wise. However, I don’t think the plan of ignoring it is the correct path to take. I lost respect for him because of that. I would have him come out and use his success, use this event, to prevent other kids from getting into the same problem. So, he made it out of his DUI with just 18 months probation, a fine and some speeches; maybe the next kid will get in an accident hurt themselves or someone else. I feel like he dropped the ball here. He had an opportunity to do an amazing good, far beyond simply winning gold medals.
Instead, he just takes the fame and leaves the rest. That’s not something I admire, that is not something I look up to. I’m very happy for you Michael, you are truly great athlete, but I wish you were a stronger person.